Taylor, a rookie quarterback from Hampton High and Virginia Tech, sustained a bruised left shoulder during the first quarter of the Ravens’ final exhibition game, a 21-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome.

"The only issue we encountered this game was Tyrod Taylor and his small injury that might just be a bruised shoulder," coach Jphn Harbaugh said in his postgame news conference. "We will see how serious it is (Friday), but it looks like it won't be that serious. If we find out he can't play then we will definitely have an issue."

Taylor did not have the shoulder X-rayed in the locker room and told the Sun, “I think it's just something minor. It's a short setback. I think I'll be ready for the regular season.”

The setback came one week after Taylor’s sterling fourth-quarter performance – he led three scoring drives and threw the game-winning touchdown pass -- against the Washington Redskins appeared to solidify his status as Baltimore’s No. 2 quarterback behind incumbent Joe Flacco.

An undervalued sixth-round draft choice, Taylor started against the Falcons as the Ravens rested many starters, Flacco included. But that meant Taylor was operating behind reserve linemen.

The Sun’s Jamison Hensley reported that Taylor’s injury appeared to occur on Baltimore’s second series, when he absorbed a hit from defensive end Kroy Biermann that drove his left shoulder into the turf. Taylor remained in the game, completing a 9-yard screen to Anthony Allen on the next snap. But one play later, he trotted to the bench, his arm clearly hurting.

Doctors took Taylor to the locker room before he returned to the sidelines for the remainder of the game.

Taylor completed 2-of-3 passes for 16 yards with an interception. He ran twice for 11 yards. Third-stringer Hunter Cantwell was 13-of-28 for 111 yards with one interception.

For the preseason, Taylor was 37-of-60 for 408 yards, a touchdown and three picks.

Harbaugh declined to say whether Taylor’s injury would prompt the Ravens to sign a veteran free agent such as Jake Delhomme before the Sept. 11 opener against division rival and defending AFC champion Pittsburgh.

If the Ravens provide further information Friday on Taylor, we’ll post it ASAP.

No matter their college pedigree, sixth-round draft choices are guaranteed squat in the NFL. So Tyrod Taylor, last season’s ACC Player of the Year at Virginia Tech, had to earn his way onto the Baltimore Ravens’ roster.

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